TLDR;

Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery welcomes the winter season with two seasonal beers: returning Fa La La La La Winter Ale and the debut of Drawknife Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter.

Drawknife (6.8% ABV, 45 BU) spent three months in freshly emptied bourbon barrels, developing notes of dark cocoa, vanilla, caramel and toffee.

Fa La La La La (7.5% ABV, 85 BU), on the other hand, features Oregon-grown Centennial hops, Strata and Pilsner, Crystal and Red X malts, delivering citrus, resinous pine and evergreen character.

Both are available now at Double Mountain locations in refillable packaging and on draft.

If you want to learn more, we’ve included the press release below.

Press Release

Hood River, OR - September 2026

Winter is here, and Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery is welcoming the season with two winter beer releases. Returning for another year is the beloved Fa La La La La Winter Ale, alongside the debut of an entirely new seasonal, Drawknife, a bourbon barrel-aged porter.

A longtime winter tradition, Fa La La La La Winter Ale is back for another rendition. We love this beer. It’s got history. It’s bold and unapologetic, and it’s just feckin’ tasty. We tinker and tweak it every year, and this year’s version is no different.

Centennial hops take the reins, with this year’s entire crop sourced from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Expect juicy citrus, resinous pine, and dewy evergreen, backed by Pilsner, Crystal, and Red X malts. We gave the hop dip a little boost and invited Strata to join the bittering addition. The result is a crisp, hop-forward winter ale with plenty of character.

Joining the lineup for the first time is Drawknife, a Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter named for the traditional cooperage tool used to shape barrel staves. After primary fermentation, this new porter was transferred into freshly emptied bourbon barrels, where it rested for three months in our warehouse cellar.

“We love the nuance barrels can give, working with local companies to procure barrels, and rolling the dice on aging things into barrels,” says Head Brewer, Greg Balch. “This beer is wonderful for this time of year. It’s got all the vanillin and caramel and toffee and dry baker’s chocolate you could ask for. A pint doesn’t kick your ass either.”

Drawknife

Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter

6.8% ABV | 45 BU

Named for the traditional cooperage tool used to shape staves, this porter rested in bourbon casks, drawing rich notes of dark cocoa, vanilla, and caramel cut into its deep profile. The heat on the aroma is deceiving, and the lower ABV makes this one drink nicely.

*Available in 500ml refillable bottles

Fa La La La La

Winter Ale

7.5% ABV | 85 BU

Centennial hops take the reins with evergreen and ripe citrus, with a resounding chorus of Pilsner, Crystal, and Red X malts echoing the refrain. This IPA is full of love, goodwill, and is as crisp as a bluebird winter morning. Peace, love, and beers!

*Available in 12oz refillable bottle 6-packs

Both beers are available now at Double Mountain locations. Fa La La La La returns in 12 oz. six-packs, while Drawknife makes its debut in 500ml refillable bottles.

Whether you’re in the mood for a familiar winter favorite or something new from the cellar, we’ve got you covered. Plus, keep an eye out for another bourbon barrel-aged beer coming this March to celebrate 20 years. Peace, love, and beers!

ABOUT DOUBLE MOUNTAIN BREWERY & CIDERY

Double Mountain is a Brewery & Cidery based in Hood River, Oregon that extends a warm welcome to all. Our brewery in Hood River boasts our original taproom where you can experience the heart of our craft. We have two additional taprooms in Portland, located in the Woodstock and Overlook neighborhoods, and a kitchen at the Aladdin theater, open during showtimes. We strive to create a living room atmosphere, where we spin vinyl, offer weekly free live music, and host trivia nights. Our food philosophy revolves around sharing moments with friends. We offer various New Haven-style pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and an array of other dishes that proudly steer clear of the fryer. We take pride in our hop-forward beers, crisp unsweetened dry-ciders, and house-made n/a root beer and ginger ale. We hope you’ll stop by and share a pint with us!

Double Mountain may be found on tap and in refillable bottles throughout the Pacific Northwest.

TLDR;

Firestone Walker has opened enrollment for its 2027 Brewmaster’s Collective, a limited-membership beer club featuring 25 barrel-aged beers, six exclusive brewery collaborations and experimental releases curated by brewmaster Matt Brynildson.

Capped at 1,250 members, the $399 per year membership includes four seasonal shipments, rare beer access, VIP taproom experiences and other perks.

Highlights include expanded Parabola variants, returning barrel-aged favorites and collaborations with breweries including Horus, Surly and Stone Brewing.

As Brynildson explains, “The Brewmaster’s Collective gives us freedom to go all out and make small-batch beers that we simply couldn’t brew for the broader market. Each collection showcases the creativity and craftsmanship required to make a range of beers at the highest level. It’s about giving members a seat at the table and letting them experience a side of Firestone Walker that most people never get to see.”

If you want to learn more, we’ve included the press release below.

Press Release

Paso Robles, CA—Calling all craft fanatics: Firestone Walker’s acclaimed beer club returns with the 2027 Brewmaster’s Collective, featuring a fresh lineup of rare, experimental and highly sought-after beers. Enrollment opens on November 3 at 10 a.m. PST at FirestoneWalker.com and is limited to 1,250 total members.

Curated by acclaimed brewmaster Matt Brynildson, the yearlong beer club takes members deep into the creative process with beers drawn from Firestone Walker’s storied barrel-aging program, including one-off collaborations, deep-dive R&D beers and other releases brewed specifically for Brewmaster’s Collective members. Each quarterly club shipment offers a new collection of barrel-aged beers, each pushing the boundaries of quality, craft and creativity.

In writing about the Brewmaster’s Collective, the editors at Uncrate noted, “For a quarter-century, Firestone Walker has been crafting some of the best beer in the country.” The current 2026 Brewmaster’s Collective season has drawn raves from top beer reviewers who’ve dropped descriptors like “stellar,” “amazing,” “delicious” and “dynamite,” with Dan Beck (Brews with Beck) concluding, “This is why you need to join this club and drink more Firestone. They know what the hell they're doing.”

“The Brewmaster’s Collective gives us freedom to go all out and make small-batch beers that we simply couldn’t brew for the broader market,” Brynildson said. “Each collection showcases the creativity and craftsmanship required to make a range of beers at the highest level. It’s about giving members a seat at the table and letting them experience a side of Firestone Walker that most people never get to see.”

2027 Brewmaster’s Collective Highlights

Firestone Walker’s 2027 Brewmaster’s Collective features 25 barrel-aged beers, including six exclusive collaboration beers made with an all-star cast of breweries from across the country.

The 2027 Brewmaster’s Collective spans four seasonal collections throughout the year, with a Welcome Kit included in the first collection. Highlights of next year’s club include:

Iconic Barrel-Aged Favorites — Including Helldorado, Bravo, Into the Starkness and Framboise

Expanded Parabola Variants — Featuring Parabola, Paraboloid, ParaPajamas, West Side Parabola, and a new flavor of Parabolita: Dubai Chocolate

Epic Collaboration Beers — Brewed with Everywhere Beer, Horus, Surly, There Does Not Exist, Alma Mader and Stone Brewing

Member Benefits

Membership goes beyond the beer. Exclusive benefits include:

15% off nearly all Firestone Walker purchases including beer, merch, and dining

VIP taproom access and complimentary Paso Robles brewery tours for up to four guests

Access to member tastings and events, including complimentary Collection Flights each quarter

Lottery access for limited tickets to the 2027 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

Priority access to Firestone Walker’s cellar library of rare and past club beers, and an exclusive quarterly online order window for members only

Annual membership is $399 plus tax and shipping (or $425 in installments) and includes the option for delivery or pickup at Firestone Walker’s locations in Paso Robles, Buellton, or Venice. The club is open to residents of CA, KY, NE, NH, ND, PA, VT, VA, and Washington DC.

# # #

Firestone Walker proudly celebrates 30 years in 2026. Founded by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker, Firestone Walker is a family-led second-generation brewery based on California’s Central Coast. Helmed by Nick Firestone and decorated Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, Firestone Walker's main brewery in Paso Robles produces a robust lineup of award-winning beers including 805, California's #1 craft beer brand established in 2012; Mind Haze, a top 5 national hazy IPA; and Cali Squeeze, one of the nation's fastest-growing beer brands. The Firestone brand family also includes iconic beers such as DBA, Union Jack, and Pivo Pils, as well as the storied Vintage Series of barrel-aged strong ales led by Parabola. As a California beer company, Firestone Walker also has two additional locations: the Barrelworks wild ale cellar in Santa Barbara County and the Propagator R&D brewhouse in Venice. In 2026, Firestone Walker assumed stewardship of two iconic California brands: Stone Brewing and Trumer Pils USA. More at FirestoneWalker.com.

TLDR;

Responding to their awards at this year’s Washington Beer Awards, Chuckanut Brewery took home two golds and four silvers across six beer styles.

Breaking it down, Chuckanut’s Bohemian-style Chuckanut Pilsner and German-style Alt Bier claimed gold, while its Fest Bier, historic Polish Grodziskie, Japanese-style Lager and West Coast Pils each earned silver.

A juggernaut in the realm of lager producers, these awards continue Chuckanut's established competition record, which includes three previous Large Brewery of the Year titles at the Washington Beer Awards.

If you want to see the full statement, we’ve included the press release below.

Press Release

Chuckanut Brewery proudly announces the celebration of winning six awards at the WA Beer Awards Competition 2026. The competition is designed specifically to support Washington's professional brewers and is judged in a blind format. More than 1,000 beers from 153 breweries across 142 styles were judged for excellence. Chuckanut received 2 Gold Medals and 4 Silver Medals for their Chuckanut Pilsner, Alt Bier, Fest Bier, Grodziskie Polish Lager, Japanese (Asian) Style Lager, and West Coast Pils.

Chuckanut Bohemian Style Pilsner and the Alt Bier German Ale both won Gold Medals, both beers have won this medal in the past. The Fest Bier, only available once a year, won Silver in the German style Oktoberfest/Festbier category. Grodziskie is an historic smoky Polish Lager that won Silver. Chuckanut Japanese Style Lager, also known as Asian Style Lager at Din Tai Fung Restaurants, won silver as well. A newcomer to award competition was the West Coast Pils which won a Silver Medal. Look for any of these award winning beers on draft or in cans wherever Chuckanut beers are sold.

Chuckanut Brewery brews award winning Lagers and Ales and has won Large Brewery of the Year at WA Beer Awards 2017, 2019 and 2021 and Small Brewery at the GABF 2011 and 2009. The production facility and Tap Room is located in Skagit Valley at 11937 Higgins Airport Way, Burlington, WA and welcomes guests of all ages with indoor and outdoor seating! Check out additional information about Chuckanut at chuckanutbrewery.com.

TLDR;

Last week, the results of the Washington Beer Awards® were announced.

Now in its 12th year, the awards celebrated 153 producers, over 1,000 entries, spread across 67 categories totaling 142 beer styles. The result was 92 breweries and cideries taking home medals including Icicle Brewing Company for Large Brewery of the Year with five golds and a silver, Fortside Brewing, Ilk Beer and Haas Innovations Brewing taking remaining brewery-of-the-year honors.

Further down, Georgetown Brewing earned Pro-Am gold, with Formula Brewing and Sun River Brewing topping the collaboration category.

If you want a complete breakdown, we’ve included the press release, which lists all winners in order of gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded.

Press Release

Seattle, WA, November 2, 2026: Specialty Competitions LLC is proud to release the results of the twelfth annual Washington Beer Awards®. This year 92 Washington breweries and cideries received recognition of gold, silver, and bronze medals in 67 award category groupings.

The results for this Washington-only professional beer competition were announced on November 2nd at the Washington Craft Beer Summit at the Sea-Tac Doubletree where some of Washington’s best brewers received medals for their award-winning beers.

The judging for the Washington Beer Awards was held on September 12th and 13th at Elliott Bay Public House & Brewery in Lake City. The panels of trained judges had to evaluate 1,048 entries beers from 153 breweries and cideries spanning 142 unique styles from the Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines for technical and stylistic excellence.

The competition was held with the endorsement of the Washington Beer Commission and Washington Brewers Guild as a way to celebrate Washington’s growing brewing culture and recognize excellence in the craft. All of Washington’s craft breweries were invited to submit entries to the competition held in a similar format to other craft beer competitions like the Great American Beer Festival® and World Beer Cup®.

Four special awards, the Very Small, Small, Mid-Sized and Large Breweries of the Year, were presented to breweries who won numerous medals in many categories. Haas Innovations Brewing LLC. won as the Very Small Brewery of the Year by strength of victory over three other breweries. Ilk Beer landed a gold and two silvers to become this year’s small brewery of the year. Fortside Brewing Company had a dominating year winning 4 golds and a silver to become the Mid-Sized Brewery of the Year category. The Large Brewery of the Year was won by Icicle Brewing Company with an amazing 5 golds and a silver.

A few special awards also provided recognizing some unique Washington brewing excellence. Georgetown Brewing Company won a gold in the “Pro-Am” category for a session IPA that was developed by Washington homebrewer Ryan Hopkins and scaled up for commercial production. Formula Brewing and Sun River Brewing collaborated on a Australian Pale Ale called “Chase Down” which won gold in this year’s “Collaboration Beer” category.

More information on the competition and the complete list of results can be found at www.wabeerawards.com/winners. Watch for Washington’s award-winning beers marked at your local craft beer bars and beer stores and get ready for the Washington Beer Awards to return in 2027 where new winners will be decided!

Complete Results:

Munich-Style Helles:

Gold: Formula Brewing - Chasing Space

Silver: Lucky Envelope Brewing - Helles Lager

Bronze: Larrabee Lager Company - Original

German-Style Pilsners:

Gold: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Production - Flowers Of Alsace

Silver: Holy Mountain Brewing - Moonchild

Bronze: Longmire Springs Brewing - Pilsner

German-Style Oktoberfest/Festbiers:

Gold: Uprise Brewing - Festbier

Silver: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Fest Bier

Bronze: Scuttlebutt Brewing Company - Oktoberfest 2026

Czech-Style Pale Lagers:

Gold: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Pilsner

Silver: Obec Brewing - Czech Pils

Bronze: Stemma Brewing Company - Stemma Pils

Other Czech Lagers:

Gold: Sound2Summit Brewery - Czech Mates

Silver: Larrabee Lager Company - Double L

Bronze: Mighty Pine Brewing - Camber

Italian-Style Pilseners:

Gold: Heathen Brewing - Pagani

Silver: Single Hill Brewing - Howdy!

Bronze: Lumberbeard Brewing - Postcards

International-Style Pilseners:

Gold: Icicle Brewing Company - Premium Pilsner

Silver: Recluse Brew Works, LLC - Grendel's Lament Danish-Stlye Pils

Bronze: Metier Brewing Co. - We Got Y'all

Other European Lagers:

Gold: Varietal Beer - Truth Prevails

Silver: Victor 23 Brewing - Coconspirator

Bronze: Beach Cat Brewing - Southpaw - Bagheera

Mexican-Style Light Lagers:

Gold: Kulshan Brewing - K2 - Especial

Silver: Uprise Brewing - Mexican Lager

Bronze: Larrabee Lager Company - Larraveza

Mexican-Style Pale Lagers:

Gold: Bellevue Brewing Co. - Uno Mas

Silver: Redd Dog Brewing Company - Porch Buddy

Bronze: Rainy Daze Brewing - Lucha Libre

Vienna-Style Lagers:

Gold: Larrabee Lager Company - Palace Stroll

Silver: White Bluffs Brewing - Selecta

Bronze: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Vienna Lager

German-Style Maerzens:

Gold: Gruff Brewing Company - King Of Mars

Silver: Sound2Summit Brewery - Snohotoberfest

Bronze: Metier Brewing Co. - Steelfest

Rice Lagers:

Gold: Icicle Brewing Company - Akoya Rice Lager

Silver: Haas Innovations Brewing LLC. - Rice Lager

Bronze: Fast Fashion Brewing - Omakase Rice Lager

Other International Lagers:

Gold: Lucky Envelope Brewing - Yinz Jawn Pennsylvania Lager

Silver: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Japanese Style Lager

Bronze: Lucky Envelope Brewing - Karakuchi Japanese Lager

American-Style Light Lagers:

Gold: Icicle Brewing Company - Alpine Light

Silver: Wander Brewing - Wander Litely

Bronze: Sound2Summit Brewery - Boat Beer

Contemporary American-Style Lagers:

Gold: Fortside Brewing Company - Say Less

Silver: Georgetown Brewing Company - Tavern Beer

Bronze: Sig Brewing Co - Sig Pilsner

American Pilsners:

Gold: Halcyon Brewing - Urban Hike

Silver: Uprise Brewing - Pilsner

Bronze: Everybody's Brewing - Co-Pilot

Hoppy American Lagers:

Gold: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Production - Mash'n Jazz

Silver: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut West Coast Pils

Bronze: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Rancho Cowabunga

Other American-Style Lagers:

Gold: Kulshan Brewing - K2 - Premium Lager

Silver: Longmire Springs Brewing - Hide And Seek Champion

Bronze: Wander Brewing - Golden Lager

German-Style Kölsches:

Gold: Larrabee Lager Company - Coast City

Silver: Fortside Brewing Company - Post Cologne

Bronze: Uprise Brewing - Kolsch

German-Style Altbiers and Kellerbiers:

Gold: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Alt

Silver: Gruff Brewing Company - Altered Course

Bronze: Bainbridge Brewing - Arrow Point Amber

German-Style Wheat Beers:

Gold: Stoup Brewing-Capitol Hill - Stoup Dunkelweizen

Silver: Larrabee Lager Company - White Duck

Bronze: Holy Mountain Brewing - Pilgrimage

Rye and American Wheat Beers:

Gold: Barrel Mountain Brewing - Be Happy

Silver: White Bluffs Brewing - Rock N Brown

Bronze: Beach Cat Brewing - Southpaw - Catastrophe

Golden, Blonde and Cream Ales:

Gold: Beach Cat Brewing - Southpaw - Cats Blue Ribbon

Silver: Old Stove Brewing - Mira Aqui

Bronze: Lucky Envelope Brewing - Gulf Of Mexico (But Actually Done As A Cream Ale)

Bitters:

Gold: Bizarre Brewing - Cemetery Polka

Silver: Rainy Daze Brewing - Test Drive Amber

Bronze: Cardinal Craft Brewing - Skoolz Out

English Ales:

Gold: Fortside Brewing Company - Couve A'licious

Silver: Lowlander Brewing - Six Wickets

Bronze: Loowit Brewing Company - Shadow Shinobi

Scottish and Irish Ales:

Gold: Bellevue Brewing Co. - Muckle Flugga Scotch Ale

Silver: Postdoc Brewing - Kilty MacSporran

Bronze: Heathen Brewing - Arson

International & Australasian Ales:

Gold: Formula Brewing - Chase Down

Silver: Longmire Springs Brewing - Pale Ale

Bronze: WHISTLE PUNK BREWING - NZ Pale Ale

New Zealand-Style India Pale Ales:

Gold: Formula Brewing - Loyal To The Soil

Silver: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Wastelandia

Bronze: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Production - Ripsaw

Brown Porters:

Gold: Old Schoolhouse Brewery - Big Valley Brown

Silver: Obec Brewing - Porter #3

Bronze: San Juan Island Brewing Co - Black Boar Porter

Robust Porters:

Gold: Holy Mountain Brewing - Black Beer

Silver: Resonate Brewery - Spirit In The Dark

Bronze: Stoup Brewing - Robust Porter

British Stouts:

Gold: Fortside Brewing Company - Night King

Silver: Lucky Envelope Brewing - Moocifer Cream Stout

Bronze: U-Neek Brewing Company - Putin Out

Irish Stouts:

Gold: Hellbent Brewing Company - Moon Tower Stout

Silver: Rainy Daze Brewing - Haulin Oats Stout

Bronze: Lotic LLC - Existential Vacuum

American-Style Imperial Porters and Stouts:

Gold: No-Li Brewhouse - Wrecking Ball

Silver: White Bluffs Brewing - Mighty Knight

Bronze: ANACORTES BREWING COMPANY,LLC - Empress

American-Style Pale Ales:

Gold: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Papermaker

Silver: Stoup Brewing - Mosaic Pale

Bronze: Bale Breaker Brewing Company - Daybreak Pale Ale

Juicy or Hazy Pale Ales:

Gold: Bainbridge Brewing - Shore Power Hazy Pale

Silver: Odd Otter Brewing Co. - Otter Fuzz

Bronze: Elliott Bay Brewing - Ride The Cylone

American-Style Strong Pale Ales:

Gold: Loowit Brewing Company - Alley Cat

Silver: Trap Door Brewing - Trap Door IPA

Bronze: Old Schoolhouse Brewery - Easy Runaway

Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ales:

Gold: Chainline Brewing Company - Tune Up

Silver: Bale Breaker Brewing Company - Duskbound

Bronze: Logan Brewing Company - Green Hill Zone

American-Style Amber/Red Ales:

Gold: Stoup Brewing - NW Red

Silver: Ilk Beer - The Long Pour American Amber Lager

Bronze: Sound2Summit Brewery - Night Sky Red

American-Style Dark Ales and Stouts:

Gold: Old Schoolhouse Brewery - Hooligan Stout

Silver: Wet Coast Brewing Co. - Scofflaw CDA

Bronze: Peace Of Mind Brewing - Xenowort

American-Style India Pale Ales:

Gold: Hellbent Brewing Company - Dog Party IPA

Silver: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Built For Speed

Bronze: Elliott Bay Brewing - Elliott Bay IPA

West Coast-Style India Pale Ales:

Gold: Icicle Brewing Company - Peak Series Beta 1.0 IPA

Silver: Formula Brewing - Formula 34

Bronze: Heathen Brewing - Northbank Trail

Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ales:

Gold: Project 9 Brewing - King Lupu's Happy Juice

Silver: Icicle Brewing Company - Cloud Piercer Hazy IPA

Bronze: Echoes Brewing - Galactic Haze

Imperial or Double India Pale Ales:

Gold: Bale Breaker Brewing Company - Bottomcutter IIPA

Silver: Old Schoolhouse Brewery - Ruud Awakening

Bronze: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Punchface Champion

Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ales:

Gold: Skookum Brewery - Skook-Nukem

Silver: Trap Door Brewing - Juiced Up

Bronze: No-Li Brewhouse - Juicy Squatch

Other American-Style Strong Ales:

Gold: Big Time Brewery - Scarlet Fire

Silver: San Juan Island Brewing Co - Kingtide Barleywine

Bronze: White Bluffs Brewing - Scrooge McBluffs

Belgian & Belgian Inspired Ales:

Gold: Figurehead Brewing Company - Beer So Brown

Silver: Outer Planet Brewing - Brown Dwarf

Bronze: Irrelevant Beer - Sundressed

Other Belgian Strong & Abbey Ales:

Gold: Echoes Brewing - The Golden Blonde

Silver: San Juan Island Brewing Co - Lime Kiln Belgian Tripel

Bronze: U-Neek Brewing Company - Clumsily Ass Up

Belgian & French Farmhouse Ales:

Gold: Ilk Beer - Gris Matter

Silver: Ilk Beer - Helsing Junction Farmhouse Ale

Bronze: Propolis Brewing - Montem

Brett and Mixed-Culture Beers:

Gold: Bizarre Brewing - Ghosts Of Goslar Bing & Chelan Cherry

Silver: Bizarre Brewing - We Become The Prairie

Bronze: Ladd & Lass Brewing - Westchester - Arctic White Nectarine

German Style Sour Beers:

Gold: Kulshan Brewing - Sunnyland - Gose

Silver: Terramar Brewing - Octopus Garden Gose

Bronze: Terramar Brewing - Raspberry Tart

American-Style Sour Ales:

Gold: Varietal Beer - Prey Item

Silver: Stoup Brewing-Capitol Hill - Sour Pop Mixed Berry

Bronze: Single Hill Brewing - Island Time

Belgian Sour and Wild Ales:

Gold: Elliott Bay Brewing - Ambrosia Kreik

Silver: Elliott Bay Brewing - Lake City - De Rode Duivels

Bronze: North Fork Brewery - Velouria

Fruit Beers:

Gold: Fortside Brewing Company - Neon Squeeze

Silver: Varietal Beer - Sunflight

Bronze: Snow Eater Brewing Company - Conseulos Cerveza

Chili Pepper Beers:

Gold: FrinGe Brewing - Call Me Cuddles

Silver: Steam Donkey Brewing Co. - Salsa & Friends

Bronze: Barley POP! Brewing - Sweet & Sassy

Spiced, Field & Herb Beers:

Gold: Lucky Envelope Brewing - HospitaliTEA White Tea Lager

Silver: Postdoc Brewing - Kilty MacPumpkin

Bronze: North Fork Brewery - Torta De Platano

Coffee Beers:

Gold: Kulshan Brewing - Sunnyland - Cuppa Joe

Silver: Postdoc Brewing - Cram Session

Bronze: Georgetown Brewing Company - Gusto Creme

Session Beers:

Gold: The Good Society Brewery - First To Fall

Silver: Uprise Brewing - Half Tone

Bronze: Georgetown Brewing Company - Little Baby Bodhi

Smoked Beers:

Gold: Beach Cat Brewing - Northpaw - Lil Smokey

Silver: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Grodziskie

Bronze: Old Stove Brewing - Smoked Porter

Chocolate or Pastry Beers:

Gold: Icicle Brewing Company - Darker Persuasion - Caramel Macchiato

Silver: Postdoc Brewing - Mjolnir

Bronze: Snow Eater Brewing Company - Moose Trot

Specialty, Experimental & Historical Beers:

Gold: Old Stove Brewing - Grodziskie

Silver: Fremont Brewing - NA Dark

Bronze: Elysian Brewing - Gator Pie

Wood & Barrel Aged Strong Stouts:

Gold: Uprise Brewing - Phases Of The Moon

Silver: Old Stove Brewing - Gardens - Quiet Eon 2022

Bronze: Skookum Brewery - Chronocask

Wood & Barrel Aged Strong Beers:

Gold: Ladd & Lass Brewing - Barrel Aged Year Three

Silver: Lumberbeard Brewing - Anniversary Year 6

Bronze: Old Stove Brewing - Gardens - Castaway 2023

Other Wood & Barrel Aged Beers:

Gold: Bainbridge Brewing - 13th Anniversary Vanilla Bean BA Stout

Silver: Dru Bru - Margarita Sour

Bronze: Odd Otter Brewing Co. - Velvet Orchard

Seltzers:

Gold: Ram Restaurant And Brewery - Blackberry Seltzer

Silver: Triceratops Brewing Company - Blood Orange Cream Hard Soda

Bronze: Triceratops Brewing Company - Lemon Lime Hard Soda

Pro-Am:

Gold: Georgetown Brewing Company & Homebrewer Ryan Hopkins - Hopkin's

Silver: North 47 Brewing Co Homebrewer Brad Shellito - Dead Reckoning

Bronze: Beach Cat Brewing - Northpaw & Homebrewer Rob Rogers - Cold Cocked IPA

Collaboration Beers:

Gold: Formula Brewing & Sun River Brewing - Chase Down

Silver: San Juan Island Brewing Co & Kulshan Brewing - Pub Ale

Bronze: Vice Beer & Ladd and Lass Brewing - Brewing Bridges

Very Small Brewery of the Year (Sponsored by Crosby Hops): Haas Innovations Brewing LLC.

Small Brewery of the Year (Sponsored by Country Malt Group): Ilk Beer

Mid-Sized Brewery of the Year (Sponsored by Yakima Chief Hops): Fortside Brewing Company

Large Brewery of the Year (Sponsored by Briess Malt and Ingredients): Icicle Brewing Company

During an unseasonable weekend, when the skies were dotted by clouds, the air crisp, and visions of children and adults dressed in their Halloween best, George A. Hancock, founder of Maritime Pacific Brewing Company, passed away. He was nearly 80-years old.

Focused on his brewing legacy, for George, his journey began in the late ‘70s, when President Jimmy Carter signed the repeal of home brewing in 1978, which went into effect in 1979.

Working as an insurer for an engineering firm, and one who had answered the call of wanderlust, having traveled throughout Europe and the United Kingdom, George took the opportunity to brew his own beer with a close friend, in an attempt to replicate those beers he enjoyed abroad, as a replacement for the “stale” beers consumed in the United States.

Still employed with the engineering firm, he and his spouse eventually relocated to Canada, working at the company’s satellite office. There, in between hours at a desk, he brewed his own beer at home, before he and his wife relocated back to Seattle. At this point in his career, his office took notice of his enthusiasm for his work, so they provided him an opportunity to return to school, where he gained additional business experience, which he applied as part of researching how to start his own brewery.

By this time, George and his wife Jane were living back in Seattle when Independent Brewing Company (later renamed to the Redhook Brewing Company) began inside an old auto repair shop, in the sleepy Norwegian neighborhood of Ballard, and another called Noggins Brewing Company, owned by Paul Hatfield, founder of Spinnaker’s Brewpub in Victoria, British Columbia. It was here, after attending bartending school, that George applied for a job.

Inaugurated in 1988 in Seattle’s downtown neighborhood, at the Westlake Center, Noggins Brewing Company was the latest brewery and restaurant concept to open in the city, competing with the likes of Redhook and Big Time Brewing in Seattle’s University District neighborhood. Founded by Paul Hadfield, founder of Spinnakers Brewpub, with beers produced by a young Larry Rock. It was here that George and Larry would meet and here where their stories converged.

After a stint at Noggins Brewing, George opened up Maritime Pacific Brewing Company, along a series of industrial blocks, inside an auto repair shop on Leary Way in 1990. Only the 13th brewery to own a license in Washington state, George, Jane, and Larry began with a concept of producing beers not found in the city, let alone the region.

Several brewers, assistants, and staff changes later, Maritime Pacific Brewing Company relocated to their present location, after over 20-years on Leary Way. Much as he did at their Leary Way brewery, George was intimately involved in the day-to-day operations, sometimes to the chagrin of his staff. For Hancock, during an interview in 2014, George was passionate about managing and his opinion that meant comprehending every facet of the business including brewing, kegging, later bottling, cleaning, and distribution. It’s a mentality that he carried throughout his and Jane’s ownership until Rooftop Brewing Company acquired the brewery and The Jolly Roger Taproom in April 2025.

More on Maritime Pacific Brewing’s change of ownership to Rooftop Brewing Company.
https://www.northwestbeerguide.com/home/2025-martimepacific-rooftop

Reflecting on George Hancock’s public persona as owner of a brewery and restaurant, there are multiple layers.

On the surface, as husband, he was affectionate, attentive, and inclusive.

As manager, he was welcoming to those who worked for him and Jane, a lesson he learned from his father. True, in the 35-plus years, many brewers, sales staff, bartenders, and kitchen staff have listed Maritime Pacific Brewing Company on the resumes in the former. But when you asked George about his thoughts, he was always quick to avoid recalling grudges.

An example of his impact on people was recalled after news of George Hancock’s passage emanated through the internet, when Doug Keith, who worked with Hancock stated:

“Our dear friend and pioneer brew master George Hancock has passed away. He was one of a kind and will be missed. Our thoughts and condolences to his wife Jane. I have fond memories of meeting George when he launched his brewery Maritime Pacific in 1990. He hired me to design a logo and I was grateful for many years of creating art for him. I raise a glass to you George and will cherish the memories.”

As a publican, more so in the later years of his and Jane’s tenure as owners, George was ever present, assisting staff at The Jolly Roger, whether it was pouring a pint, recovering plates of food from the kitchen, delivering kegs, or sitting down with a regular for a short chat.

During the process of researching this article, seeking out additional reflections by people who knew George and Jane, this reflection by Nico Welsh, an indie musician, stated on their Instagram:

image used with permission from Nico Welsh

“Our good friend, and Seattle legend George Hancock has passed on. Many knew George as a founder of the Seattle beer scene. Carlo and I knew him as a close family friend, and a lifelong supporter of our many musical endeavors. If it weren’t for George and Jane at Maritime Brewing Company, we very well may not be playing live music in the capacity that we do now. MANY a show we played at the Jolly, and there will be more!

We love you George. I know you are up enjoying a Padron cigar, with beer in hand, and probably listening to Jimmy Buffet. #jollyforever “

In speaking with several regulars, the most “George” thing they recalled was during events like the annual launch of that year’s Jolly Roger Christmas Ale, a time when George would spend the evening speaking to everyone, in between the occasional cigar outside in the parking lot, often warmed by a nearby fire.

In fact, after Craig Christian, co-owner of Rooftop Brewing Company and now Maritime Pacific Brewing, and The Jolly Roger taproom, stated that last year’s Jolly Roger release party didn’t feature a cigar roller or encourage cigar smoking in the parking lot, because this was something that personified George, and couldn’t be replicated without George.

Incidentally, just this past Friday, November 6th, The Jolly Roger celebrated the latest release of Jolly Roger Christmas Ale, showcasing not only the latest edition but also previous years and variants. For many, as word spread of George A. Hanock’s passing, the event took a more celebratory, sometimes somber mood as people who knew him and met him reflected on the legacy of the man who started one of Ballard’s first breweries.

So, today or tonight, if you take anything from his life or from the business, Maritime Pacific Brewing Company, it’s that even if you didn’t know George, or Jane, you experienced their dream of producing something memorable, one pint, one plate, one conversation at a time.

287. That’s the initial barrel production volume when Full Sail Brewing Company was founded in 1987. Less than 13,000. That’s the last reported annual production number, in barrels, as of 2026.

Now over 35, just shy of 40-years-old, you may or may not know the complete story. But if you’re reading this, then you’re up on the current events, starting with their sale to distillery and beverage portfolio firm Sazerac.

Depending on the reporting, you’ll hear that those in the brewery were notified first, given Full Sail had developed into a glorified contract brewery, or that the pub staff were told on Monday they were provided a week's notice of its closure.

Meanwhile, for those who lived in Oregon’s riverside town, Hood River, locals, tourists, and those in hospitality had to learn the news via social media or from journalists who happened upon the information by chance or by referral.

In fact, as of this article, Full Sail Brewing Company’s social media hasn’t been updated since late-October, leading to the question of who knew internally before the transaction was completed.

However, the information was reported the fact remains, this marks the third time that Full Sail Brewing Company, including 1999 when the brewery became an employee-owned concern.

In response after being contacted, Sazerac provided the following statement, with no further comment.

“Sazerac is pleased to confirm the acquisition of Full Sail Brewing in Mt. Hood, Oregon. The Full Sail team has created a strong business plus production and manufacturing capabilities, and this acquisition enables us to add additional capacity and capabilities to our network.”

1987 - 2026. Full Sail, a business in decline

Taking a 35,000-foot review of Full Sail Brewing starting in 1987, to the most recent sale, we see a brewery that optimistically grew from a brewery inside an old fruit cannery, to one that took over several blocks, expanding to peak 130,000+ barrels per year. Today, the reported overall production was somewhere south of 13,000, a far cry from their glory days as one of the country’s largest producers.

Unfortunately, because of a combination of increasing competition within the independent beer segment, the growth of cider, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink canned expressions was quickly eating into both their draft and shelf accessibility.

Before long, Full Sail had retreated from canning or bottling of their core beers, choosing instead to invest heavily in the Session brand, which was an initial hit when it arrived in 2007 and remained a brand that people thought of when they thought of Full Sail Brewing Company.

During this same period, the brewery began divesting its investments in hospitality, starting in 2016, shortly after the employee-owned brewery sold to a private equity firm, with the closure of their project brewery and draft and package presence, inside McCormick' and Schmick’s waterfront restaurant. That investment concluded this week when the new ownership elected to close the brewery’s public house in Hood River as of this article’s publication.

What went wrong? Or what went right?

Accounting for the fact, this writer isn’t an economist, someone with a strong background in sales, marketing, or has owned a production brewery, the only presumption is Full Sail Brewing is a victim of not refreshing the brand fast enough, not establishing trends, instead of following them, and finally being a brand that consumers in the region considered safe and therefore easy to ignore in face of trying something newer, unfamiliar.

Mind you, this is an opaque analysis, without the opportunity to review the businesses annual forecasting, budgets, payroll, and marketing strategies.

Where do they go from here?

That’s the big question, depending on which side of the sale you are on.

If you’re a longtime fan of Full Sail Brewing Company’s brand, including its taproom, and releases, it’s probably safe to presume that Session will be around, even if the Hood River taproom has closed. As for any other releases, that will be left Sazerac how much they wish to continue supporting the Full Sail Brand. Finally, its unclear which contracted breweries will renew now that Sazerac has assumed ownership.

Meanwhile, for those who have been fans of Sazerac and their diverse lineup of brands, its safe to presume that brands like BuzzBallz, for example, will utilize Full Sail’s production brewery to expand access.

For the curious, here’s a sampling of brands owned by Sazerac including: Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, W.L. Weller, Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor Jr., George T. Stagg, Elmer T. Lee; SVEDKA, Wheatley Vodka, Frïs, Platinum 10X, Popov, Fleischmann’s; and BuzzBallz, Handy & Schiller Pre-Mixed Cocktails, The Club ready-to-drink expressions.

What can you do?

That’s a question you have to ask yourself.

Do you still want to support Full Sail Brewing Company so long as it continues producing beers like session?

Were you uncommitted until Sazerac purchased Full Sail Brewing Company? And now, you’re more interested?

Do you really care because there are numerous breweries to fill the void now that a corporate beverage company like Sazerac owns Full Sail Brewing Company?

Conclusion

With the confirmation from Sazerac, this marks the end of Full Sail Brewing Company’s business model as a brewery and restaurant. Time will tell how long before or if Full Sail Brewing Company is restructured into a production supplier, no longer producing beers that feature the iconic windsail.

If you want to learn more, you’re welcome to visit Full Sail Brewing Company’s website, which includes links to their social media, at https://www.fullsailbrewing.com

TLDR;

Patagonia Provisions and Bend’s Deschutes Brewery have launched Patagonia Provisions Organic IPA, their first organic IPA and fourth beer collaboration.

At 6.5% ABV it’s brewed with organic hops, organic malted barley and Regenerative Organic Certified® Kernza®, a perennial grain.

From the brewery, they have described Patagonaia Provisions Organic IPA having: “… bright citrus flavor, floral aromatics and notes of pine and tropical fruit, with a crisp, approachable finish that brings together classic and modern IPA character.”

Presently, it will be available at select Whole Foods Market, Natural Grocers, Sprouts and other retailers.

If you want to learn more, we’ve included the press release below.

Press Release

Bend, Or & Sausalito, CA – WEBWIRE – Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Today, Patagonia Provisions and Deschutes Brewery announce Patagonia Provisions Organic IPA, their first full-strength organic IPA. At 6.5% ABV, the new beer delivers bright citrus flavor, floral aromatics and notes of pine and tropical fruit, with a crisp, approachable finish that brings together classic and modern IPA character.

The fourth beer release in their partnership comes amid continued growth for organic beer. U.S. organic beverage sales reached $10.2 billion in 2025, with 7.2% year-over-year growth, outpacing overall organic market growth. Organic beer, specifically, is projected to grow 8.5% annually, driven by the increasing consumer preference for organic and sustainable products.

Brewed with organic hops, organic malted barley and Regenerative Organic Certified® Kernza®, Patagonia Provisions Organic IPA pairs Deschutes’ brewing expertise with Patagonia Provisions’ commitment to building demand for ingredients grown in ways that support healthier soil. The Organic IPA grain includes 85% organic 2-row malt and 15% Regenerative Organic Certified® Kernza®. By incorporating the grain into a familiar craft beer style, Patagonia Provisions and Deschutes aim to make regenerative ingredients more accessible - from backyard gatherings to campsite celebrations - and help create enduring markets for the farmers producing them.

“We want to make regenerative ingredients part of everyday life, and that starts with products people love,” said Paul Lightfoot, General Manager of Patagonia Provisions. “This is a bright, delicious IPA first. It also supports the market we’re building for perennial grains and the farmers growing them. A decade after introducing our first Kernza beer, we’re continuing to connect what’s in the glass with how it’s grown.”

Kernza®, developed by The Land Institute from intermediate wheatgrass, is a perennial grain that remains in the ground and produces across multiple seasons, rather than requiring annual replanting. According to The Land Institute, its roots can reach up to 10 feet deep, helping hold soil in place and capture excess nitrogen to protect water quality. Its perennial growth also reduces the need for repeated soil disturbance.

Patagonia Provisions first brought Kernza to the beer aisle in 2016 with Long Root Ale. The company has since expanded its beer offerings and brewing partnerships to build demand for perennial grains and organic ingredients.

Organic ingredients, Deschutes craftsmanship

Patagonia Provisions Organic IPA was designed to deliver the hop expression and drinkability craft beer fans expect while working within the realities of organic agriculture. Because organic hop supply remains limited, individual hop varieties may rotate based on availability. Deschutes developed the recipe to accommodate those changes while maintaining the beer’s bright, citrus-forward profile, floral lift and pine-and-tropical notes.

“Brewing great beer requires us to pay attention to where our ingredients come from,” said Peter Skrbek, CEO of Deschutes Brewery. “With this IPA, we’ve built a recipe that gives our brewers flexibility to work with the organic hops available while delivering the flavor and quality drinkers expect from Deschutes. It’s craftsmanship connected to agriculture, and a commitment to making this supply chain stronger over time.”

Building demand, one beer at a time

Patagonia Provisions and Deschutes first launched beers together in 2024. Their lineup now includes Organic Lager, Non-Alcoholic Organic Golden, Non-Alcoholic Organic IPA and the new Organic IPA. According to the companies, Deschutes has used 79,200 pounds of organic and Regenerative Organic Certified® Kernza® across the partnership’s beer program. In 2025, three organic Kernza growers transitioned to Regenerative Organic Certified® production to supply the program – an example of how consistent ingredient demand can help advance regenerative organic farming.

Availability

Patagonia Provisions Organic IPA is available now at select Whole Foods Market, Natural Grocers, Sprouts and other major retail locations. Distribution varies by state and retailer, with additional markets expected to come online into spring 2027. To find a store near you, visit the Deschutes Brewery Beer Finder.

Patagonia Provisions and Deschutes have partnered on one other alcoholic beer and two non-alcoholic brews, including their Organic Lager, Organic Non-Alcoholic IPA and Organic Non-Alcoholic Golden. According to IRI data, Organic Lager is the #1 organic craft beer in total dollar sales and Patagonia NA IPA and NA Golden are the #1 and #2 organic Non-Alcoholic Beer brands in Total US - Food rankings.¹

For more information, visit Patagonia Provisions and Deschutes Brewery online, and follow @patagoniaprovisions and @deschutesbrewery on social media.

¹Data Source: Circana/IRI, L13W ending 9.27.26, Geography: Total US - Food, Segments: NonAlc + Craft, Groups: 6pk

About Deschutes Brewery

Deschutes Brewery is a family and employee-owned craft brewery based in Bend, Oregon. Utilizing the volcanic filtered waters of the Deschutes River and hops from local farmers in and around Washington and Oregon, Deschutes has been a pioneer in creating award-winning, Damn Tasty Beer since 1988. Committed to a high standard of craftsmanship and quality, Deschutes is well known for its best-selling brand Fresh Squeezed IPA, the #1 porter in the US, Black Butte Porter, its heritage series of beers like Mirror Pond Pale Ale and Obsidian Stout, and newer brands like King Crispy and Symphonic Chronic Double Dank IPA. Through the brewery’s patented and proprietary non-alcoholic brewing process, Deschutes is proud to offer best-in-class non-alcoholic beer that tastes as good as higher ABV craft beer. Visit our brewpubs in Bend and Portland, Oregon and our Tasting Room in Bend to try our latest brews. Visit us online at deschutesbrewery.com or on social media @deschutesbrewery.

About Patagonia Provisions

Patagonia Provisions is the food and beverage business of Patagonia, bringing delicious and nutritious Patagonia-branded products that help fight the climate crisis to customers across the United States. Patagonia Provisions is committed to supporting farming and fishing practices that restore and regenerate soil and waters rather than extract from or deplete them. A certified B-Corporation, Patagonia is in business to save our home planet.

TLDR;

Portland’s Grand Fir Brewing is expanding into Oregon City’s Happy Valley area with “Outpost”, an outdoor-focused beer garden and social space planned for fall 2026.

Located in Damascus, the seven-acre space is set to feature a nearly 13,000-square-foot beer garden, a heated solarium, live music, family-friendly activities, 30 draft lines and barbecue from chef and co-founder Doug Adams.

The expansion builds on Grand Fir’s decorated track record, including Great American Beer Festival Brewer and Brewery of the Year honors in 2024.

For its co-owner and head brewer, Whitney Burnside, they are over the moon with the newest expansion.

“I’ve always wanted to have Grand Fir near our home in Oregon City, so this is a dream come true.”

If you want to learn more, including address and opening dates, we’ve included the press release below.

Press Release

Grand Fir Brewing, one of Portland’s most acclaimed breweries, is planning to open their second location near Happy Valley this year.

“We are opening our first satellite location of Grand Fir Brewing!” exclaims founder/brewmaster Whitney Burnside. “I’ve always wanted to have Grand Fir near our home in Oregon City so this is a dream come true.”

Grand Fir Brewing was already one of the most anticipated new restaurants and breweries when they first opened in November 2022. The bar was set sky high for the first project between accomplished husband/wife team of food and fermentationistas; Top Chef finalist Doug Adams brought a wealth of culinary and restaurateur experience from his time at Bullard, Imperial, and The Woodsman; and Whitney Burnside was Portland’s first female brewmaster at 10 Barrel Brewing PDX, and earned numerous awards and valuable experience brewing at some of the Pacific Northwest’s most hallowed brewing institutions like Pelican Brewing, Elysian Brewing, and Upright Brewing.

Grand Fir Brewing both met, and quickly exceeded expectations before their first anniversary.

Just five months after opening their doors, Grand Fir Brewing won silver and bronze medals at the Oregon Beer Awards and was named best new brewery in the state. In 2024 Grand Fir outperformed their initial impressive launch by starting out the year with 3 more medals at the Oregon Beer Awards and recognition as the small brewery of the year. But that was just the start, with 3 more medals from the prestigious international World Beer Cup following in May, and capping off an incredible year being named Great American Beer Festival’s Brewer and Brewery of the Year (501-1000 barrels) among thousands of contenders from across the country.

And yet 2026 and 2027 may be Grand Fir Brewing’s biggest yet.

Following the success of their spinoff supper club The Bitterroot and growing demand for their beer, Grand Fir is a success story that comes during a difficult time for the industry with sales down nationwide.

The brewery’s recent tank expansion has pushed their output from about 1,000 barrels of beer in 2025 to an expected 1,400 this year and 2k or more projected in 2027. To help shepherd the expansion and growing demand for Grand Fir beer, they recently brought on 2-time back-to-back Great American Beer Festival gold-medal winning brewer Jake Watt to join the brewing team alongside Burnside and Cassidy Mack-Rife.

With their 4 year anniversary coming in November, Grand Fir Brewing has not only already amassed an enviable list of accolades, they have made their mark in the Buckman neighborhood and are for their next challenge.

Grand Fir Brewing’s Outpost is a natural expansion of Whitney and Doug’s vision for a rural celebration of the outdoors centered around great food, drink, and company. At their Portland brewpub, Grand Fir Brewing brings the charm of the Pacific Northwest indoors with a wood paneled three-tier taproom decorated with ferns and hanging plants. At Grand Fir Outpost they will take the experience back outdoors with a sprawling garden, indoor and covered event areas, live music, games, play space, and regular cook-outs.

Grand Fir Brewing is joining the eclectic rural development at 15252 SE Highway 224 where Clackamas Highway OR-224 and 212 meet at the edge of Happy Valley and Damascus. The 7-acre plot is surrounded by a nature area and the nearby Rock Creek flows into the Clackamas River. Carver Park - a popular swimming, floating, and picnic area, is less than a mile away.

“You will be able to get off at the Carver Clackamas boat ramp and have a beer at the GF Outpost in about 3 minutes,” says Doug Adams. “We are excited to create a place where people can come off the water and come hang with us and enjoy some beer and some barbecue.”

Grand Fir Outpost will open in the space that was once home to Bigfoot Growlers, and more recently Ruzzo’s Retreat - a taproom for the popular Ruzzo’s hard citrus brand.

Among the many features of the location is a 1,100 sq. ft. indoor taproom, and a nearly 13,000 sq. ft. expansive beer garden, and a year-round heated solarium. Around the beer garden is Abel’s Garden Center’s massive nursery and plant selection that adds a lush backdrop that Grand Fir hopes you will eventually be able to browse with a beer in hand. On-site there is plenty of parking out-front and spillover in a tree-lined open field out back.

“I’ve had my eyes on this location for a long time,” says Whitney Burnside. “Driving our daughter to preschool in Happy Valley I would go that route coming down from our house in Oregon City and I’d pass by and think about how cool it would be for a taproom that fits our vibe of having a lot of outdoor space, fire pit, music - it checked all the boxes.”

Grand Fir will refresh the taproom with new upgraded equipment, a fresh coat of paint, televisions for sports, and their signature Pacific Northwest branding highlighting trees and ferns with clean bold lines and a touch of Portland refinement. Behind the bar they have 30 draft lines with half to be filled by their house beers and the rest with beverages from a list of their favorite beers from other award-winning breweries.

Chef Doug Adams plans to make the most of the open-air space, firing up the grill and putting a newly acquired smoker from East Texas to work on BBQ and food specials.

Doug Adams: “First and foremost I want to introduce the community to Whit’s phenomenal beer. And then just make it a really fun place where people can get something from the smoker outside. People can look forward to things like a Bitterroot Club-style steakhouse night one weekend, or another weekend smoked chicken, or a crawfish boil, or a crab boil - really activate that space and keep it moving.”

During the weekdays the pub will offer a small menu with items like BBQ sandwiches, clam chowder, seasonal salads, chips and queso, and custom sausages, while permanent on-site food trucks offer a full set of food options as well.

*Grand Fir is going for big Austin, Texas beer garden vibes on the patio. There will be a stage for live music, the heated solarium with its own TV, a large fire pit with adirondack chairs, and activities for kids to roam and play in an enclosed wide open area. And, behind the building there is a grassy field where they envision having drive-in-style movie nights with folding chairs and popcorn during the warm and dry summers.

Whitney Burnside: “One of the main things for us is since we are parents is we would love to go somewhere in the area that is not so Chuckie-Cheese, a place where we can have our daughter and she can have a good time and have a lot of stuff to do. This is going to be a really great location for people to bring their families while mom and dad have a beer.”

Grand Fir Brewing plans to open the Outpost this fall at 15252 OR-224 Ste A, Damascus, OR 97089.

TLDR;

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Joan Jett have launched Jett Black Lager, a limited-edition beer celebrating the 45th anniversary of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ albums Bad Reputation and I Love Rock ’n’ Roll.

At 4.4% ABV Jett Black Lager is brewed with barley malt, flaked maize and flaked rice. It’s been described as having “… aromas of honey, herbs and black pepper, alongside smooth flavors of sweet breadcrust and light toast.”

A limited-edition release, it’s available, direct-to-consumer, in four-packs of 12-ounce cans bundled with exclusive merchandise retail for $45, including shipping.

If you want to learn more about this release, we’ve included the press release below

Press Release

MILTON, Del., Oct. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A brewery with a music problem, Dogfish Head debuts a new, limited-edition beer in collaboration with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Joan Jett, to celebrate the 45th anniversaries of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ landmark albums, ‘Bad Reputation’ and ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll.’ Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 9 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. EST, the duo’s collaborative brew, Jett Black Lager, will be available nationwide via Give Them Beer as part of a special beer and merchandise kit. While supplies last, Jett Black Lager kits will be priced at $45 each, inclusive of shipping. Purchase allowance is limited to one kit per person.

Like the music of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Jett Black Lager is approachable and timeless, while maintaining an off-centered, “don’t give a damn,” attitude. Brewed with barley malt, flaked maize and flaked rice, this crushable lager strikes a power chord with aromas of honey, herbs and black pepper, alongside smooth flavors of sweet breadcrust and light toast. Simply put … it’s a jet-black-colored brew (get it?) that’s as easy-drinking, crisp and clean-finishing as your favorite light beer.

“This collaboration is truly a full-circle moment for me. Joan Jett was my first-ever concert, and you know what they say, ‘you never forget your first,’” said Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Brewer & Founder. “Watching Joan on stage cemented my love of rock ‘n’ roll music. She showed me, and so many other folks, that truly original music is all about creative expression, rebellion and challenging the status quo, all things we at Dogfish Head pride ourselves on when brewing beer.”

Each Jett Black Lager beer and merchandise kit includes a 4pk/12oz cans of Jett Black Lager alongside a co-branded pin pack, a studded pleather can cooler, and a heart-shaped guitar pick bottle opener, all packaged in a commemorative, co-branded box. Folks that miss the first drop of Jett Black Lager beer and merchandise kits on Tuesday, Oct. 27, will have two more chances to snag one of these limited-edition bundles, with restocks slated for Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 9 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. EST.

Want to enjoy a multi-sensory experience? Ordering a Jett Black Lager beer and merchandise kit by Tuesday, Nov. 10, allows ample time for it to arrive ahead of Record Store Day’s RSD Black Friday celebration. On Friday, Nov. 27, music-lovers are encouraged to visit their local, independently owned record stores to scoop up a myriad of new vinyl record releases, including Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ 45th anniversary album, ‘I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll: The Shadow Album.’ To find a local, independently owned record store, check out Record Store Day’s store finder.

"I’ve always believed in doing things your own way, and Dogfish Head has that same spirit,” said Jett. “Looking forward to raising a glass of Jett Black Lager to 45 years of ‘I Love Rock ’N Roll’ and ‘Bad Reputation.’”

Additional 4pk/12oz cans of Dogfish Head and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ Jett Black Lager will be available at the brewery’s coastal Delaware locations beginning Wednesday, Nov. 11, as will limited quantities of the duo’s collaborative merchandise.

Since the day Dogfish Head opened as the first brewpub in the first state more than 31 years ago, it has focused on original craft beverages, original food and original music. Throughout its history, Dogfish Head’s live music stage has hosted acts of all kinds, including The Strokes, Black Pumas, The Mountain Goats, Guided by Voices and more. In addition to its weekly calendar of live music shows, Dogfish Head manifests its music heritage through collaborations with industry icons, having created products and compiled vinyl records with folks like The Flaming Lips, the Miles Davis estate, Deltron 3030 and most recently, the Grateful Dead.

For more on Dogfish Head and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, please visit www.dogfish.com and www.joanjett.com, respectively.

XXX

ABOUT DOGFISH HEAD:

 With quality, creativity and non-conformity at its core, Dogfish Head has been committed to brewing unique beers with high-caliber culinary ingredients outside the Reinheitsgebot since the day it opened more than 31 years ago. Dedicated to exploring goodness of all kinds, Dogfish Head later expanded its beverage artistry beyond just craft beer to produce award-winning portfolios of full-proof spirits – whiskeys, gins, vodkas, rums and more – and spirits-based, ready-to-drink canned cocktails. A Boston Beer Company brand and proud supporter of the Independent Craft Brewing Seal, Dogfish Head is a Delaware-based entity consisting of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, a production brewery and tasting room; Dogfish Head Distilling Co., a production distillery; Brewings & Eats, a brewpub and live music venue; Chesapeake & Maine, a seafood and cocktail spot; and the Dogfish INN, a beer-themed, canal-front hotel. For more about Dogfish Head, please visit www.dogfish.com or follow the brand on social media.     

ABOUT JOAN JETT:

Joan Jett’s influence can be felt well beyond her storied music career. She is an icon in the truest sense, leaving her mark on fashion, style and cultural touchstones. She came up in a time when rock ’n’ roll wasn’t built for girls — so she kicked the door down in 1975 with her first band, The Runaways. It was the first of many iconoclastic moments in her life, including starting her own independent record label, Blackheart Records, after she was rejected by no less than 23 labels. She formed Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, earned a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and racked up 8 platinum and gold albums with 9 Top 40 singles, including “Bad Reputation,” “I Love Rock ’N’ Roll,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.”

Jett remains a fearless icon and inspiration. With the 45th anniversaries of her seminal albums Bad Reputation and I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll, she is poised to influence a new generation. For more information, visit: www.joanjett.com.

TLDR;

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is bringing back Midas Touch, its popular Ancient Ale, previously apart of its Ancient Ale series.

Recreated from chemical evidence found in a drinking vessel associated with King Midas, the beer-wine-mead hybrid blends barley, honey, white Muscat grapes and saffron. At 9% ABV, the brewery has offered these tasting notes: “… sweet notes of honey and orchard fruits, complemented by a subtle, earthy spice and a crisp, vinous finish.:"

The beer is returning on draft and in six-packs of 12-ounce cans across select states.

If you want to learn more about this, we’ve included the press release below.

Press Release

MILTON, Del., Oct. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beginning tomorrow, Dogfish Head’s most-requested rare beer, Midas Touch, makes its highly anticipated return. The first of the brewery’s “Ancient Ales,” this beer-wine-mead hybrid is a “liquid gold” recreation of a millennia-old beverage enjoyed by the historic King Midas, the chemical evidence for which was found during the excavation of the Turkish ruler’s tomb. Midas Touch is currently making its way to taps and shelves across select states from coast-to-coast, but for drinkers who can’t wait, Dogfish Head’s Delaware locations will have it this week, both on draft and in 6pk/12oz cans.

MORE ON MIDAS TOUCH: Landing somewhere between a beer, a mead and a wine, Midas Touch is a liquid time capsule brewed with a unique blend of barley, honey, white Muscat grapes and saffron. Clocking in at 9.0% ABV, it is a sweet yet dry brew that appeals to both beer- and white wine-drinkers alike. Medium-bodied and lightly warming, Midas Touch boasts sweet notes of honey and orchard fruits, complemented by a subtle, earthy spice and a crisp, vinous finish.

“Of all our rare beers, Midas Touch is by-far the most beloved by drinkers,” said Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Brewer & Founder. “Since we last brewed Midas, we’ve received countless messages and comments from our followers across our social media channels, as well as from guests that have visited our properties in Delaware, all begging us to bring this deliciously complex beer back. Well, we heard you and we couldn’t be more excited for the return of this Ancient Ale!”

THE STORY BEHIND MIDAS TOUCH: More than two millennia ago, in what is now Türkiye, lived King Midas of Phrygia, a ruler rumored to bear a “golden touch.” Whether there’s any truth to that myth, the world may never know, but it can be confirmed that King Midas was known to enjoy an alcoholic beverage.

Fast-forward more than 2,700 years, during the modern excavation of King Midas’ tomb, the late biomolecular archeologist, Dr. Patrick McGovern of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology & Anthropology, uncovered a preserved drinking vessel, complete with remnants of the original liquid that once filled it. After careful chemical analysis of the vessel’s remnants, he was able to determine the probable makeup of the ancient liquid, including the ingredients used to build the original recipe.

Enter Dogfish Head! Known for brewing with off-centered culinary ingredients of all kinds, the brewery’s Brewer & Founder, Sam Calagione, jumped at the challenge to work with Dr. Patrick McGovern and bring this once beloved beverage “back from the dead.” In 1999, Midas Touch – and subsequently, Dogfish Head’s “Ancient Ales” beer series – was born.

DOGFISH HEAD’S “ANCIENT ALES” BEER SERIES: After the success of Midas Touch, Dogfish Head teamed up with Dr. Patrick McGovern for a plethora of other “Ancient Ales.” Similarly to the process used to create Midas Touch, each “Ancient Ale” was crafted with biomolecular evidence and cultural traditions from a specific era and region. Examples of Dogfish Head’s various “Ancient Ales,” include, but are not limited to:

Chateau Jiahu (10.0% ABV): Developed in 2006, Chateau Jiahu is recreation of a 9,000-year-old beverage brewed with orange honey blossom, Muscat grape juice, barley malt and hawthorn fruit, the evidence for which was found in preserved pottery jars found in Northern China’s Neolithic village of Jiahu, in Henan province.

Ta Henket (4.5% ABV): Developed in 2010, Ta Henket is a recreation of an ancient Egyptian beverage brewed with wheat, loaves of hearth-baked bread, chamomile, doum-palm fruit and a blend of Middle Eastern herbs using traditions plucked from Egyptian hieroglyphics and a saccharomyces yeast strain native to Cairo.

Kvasir (10.0% ABV): Developed in 2013, Kvasir is a recreation of a 3,500-year-old Danish beverage brewed with red winter wheat, bog-grown berries, honey, birch syrup and a medley of herbs, the evidence for which was gleamed from the chemical, botanical and pollen analysis of an ancient drinking vessel from the Nordic climes of Scandinavia.

For more on Midas Touch and Dogfish Head’s other “Ancient Ales,” please visit www.dogfish.com. To track down Dogfish Head’s beers, check out the Fish Finder.

XXX

DOGFISH HEAD CRAFT BREWERY:

 With quality, creativity and non-conformity at its core, Dogfish Head has been committed to brewing unique beers with high-caliber culinary ingredients outside the Reinheitsgebot since the day it opened more than 31 years ago. Dedicated to exploring goodness of all kinds, Dogfish Head later expanded its beverage artistry beyond just craft beer to produce award-winning portfolios of full-proof spirits – whiskeys, gins, vodkas, rums and more – and spirits-based, ready-to-drink canned cocktails. A Boston Beer Company brand and proud supporter of the Independent Craft Brewing Seal, Dogfish Head is a Delaware-based entity consisting of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, a production brewery and tasting room; Dogfish Head Distilling Co., a production distillery; Brewings & Eats, a brewpub and live music venue; Chesapeake & Maine, a seafood and cocktail spot; and the Dogfish INN, a beer-themed, canal-front hotel. For more about Dogfish Head, please visit www.dogfish.com or follow the brand on social media.

TLDR;

Los Angeles-born non-alcoholic beer brand Easy Does It is taking its beer on the road to California’s San Diego, Orange County and the Inland Empire, along with expanding into Oregon for the first time.

Launched in August 2025, Easy Does It has grown from modest beginnings in Los Angeles to where it is today. Notable is Easy Does It’s connection to Portland.

As the brewery puts it.

“Oregon brings Easy Does It to a market where its roots already run deep. Ellington’s name has been on the walls of Oregon’s skate shops for twenty years and still is today, and Portland’s long connection to skate, music and do-it-yourself culture makes it a natural next stop. Founded in 2016 by Robby Roda to bring Southern California craft beer to Portland, Day One Distribution shares that independent spirit, with established relationships across Oregon’s bars, restaurants and retailers.”

If you want to learn more about this expansion, we’ve included the press release below.

Press Release

LOS ANGELES, CA, October 21, 2026. Easy Does It, the Los Angeles-born non-alcoholic beer brand, is expanding its reach with two new distribution partnerships. Karl Strauss Distributing brings the brand into San Diego and broadens its presence across Southern California, while Day One Distribution will introduce Easy Does It to Oregon, the brand’s first market outside its home state.

Easy Does It launched in August 2025, building its early presence through founder-led distribution and neighborhood accounts across Los Angeles. Just over a year later, the brand has expanded from more than 80 points of distribution in March to more than 300 today and landed a feature at Whole Foods Market across Southern California, with both of its lagers, Original Brew and Original Gold, in the coldbox. The new partnerships build on that momentum, bringing Easy Does It to more bars, restaurants and retailers across the West Coast.

Easy Does It is a great beer with no strings attached, built around the rituals, the people and the places. There are no rules, and the brand isn’t here to tell anyone how to live. Co-founded by Erik Ellington, who spent three decades at the center of skateboarding and built Deathwish Skateboards, Bakerboys Distribution and Supra Footwear, the brand is built from inside skate, music and independent culture, not marketed at it. It has grown through skate events, lowrider shows, mezcal festivals and in-store tastings, and in the neighborhood bars and restaurants where beer already lives. That same approach now leads its expansion into new markets.

Oregon brings Easy Does It to a market where its roots already run deep. Ellington’s name has been on the walls of Oregon’s skate shops for twenty years and still is today, and Portland’s long connection to skate, music and do-it-yourself culture makes it a natural next stop. Founded in 2016 by Robby Roda to bring Southern California craft beer to Portland, Day One Distribution shares that independent spirit, with established relationships across Oregon’s bars, restaurants and retailers.

“A little over a year ago, we were delivering beer ourselves around Los Angeles. Now we’re doing it with partners who understand what we’re building,” said Kellen Roland, co-founder of Easy Does It. “Karl Strauss are beer people who know the on-premise and chain markets in San Diego better than anyone. Day One are craft people who built their business bringing Southern California beer to Oregon. The job hasn’t changed. Make the best beer we can, and get it to more people.”

“Getting access to market is more difficult now than ever. With distributor consolidation and a very crowded market, we take signing new brands very seriously and say no far more than we say yes. To be working with Easy Does It is not only exciting but speaks to the quality of their product, their branding and how they approach entering the So Cal market. The NA market is on fire, and to be working with such an exciting new entrant is not only exciting, but rare. We expect to see big things come from this brand and are honored they are trusting us through this journey,” said Chad Heath, COO, Beer Division, Karl Strauss Distributing.

“Easy Does It has the kind of independent spirit that resonates in Oregon. It’s rooted in skateboarding, music and community, but at the end of the day it’s also just really good beer. We’re excited to introduce the brand to our accounts and help build its presence in the Pacific Northwest,” said Robby Roda, Founder, Day One Distribution.

Karl Strauss Distributing is now shipping Easy Does It across San Diego, Orange County and the Inland Empire. In Oregon, Easy Does It is available from Day One Distribution.

About Easy Does It

Easy Does It is a Los Angeles-born non-alcoholic beer brand rooted in counterculture, craftsmanship, and community. Founded by professional skateboarder Erik Ellington alongside Kellen Roland and Jon Warren, the brand was created to fill a gap in the NA category: a premium, full-flavor beer that doesn’t ask you to tone it down to drink it. Built for real-world spaces and cultural communities, Easy Does It is beer with edge that belongs in the room. No gimmicks. No bullshit. Just beer done right.

Easy Does It is distributed in Southern California by LA Distributing and Karl Strauss Distributing, in Oregon by Day One Distribution, and is available on Amazon. Find a location near you and learn more at easydoesitbrew.com.

Follow Easy Does It on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest drops, events and brand news.

About Karl Strauss Distributing

Since 1989 we’ve dedicated ourselves to growing the craft beer industry in San Diego and beyond by helping fellow brewers however we can. Karl Strauss Distributing is our latest step in giving like-minded, independent beverage producers an avenue for bringing their labors of love to market.

About Day One Distribution

Day One Distribution was launched in the summer of 2016 by craft beer veteran, Robby Roda. The initial focus was to supply in-demand small specialty craft beer from Southern California into the booming craft beer industry of Portland, Oregon. Roda has now expanded into distributing craft beers from around the USA into Portland.

45-years, and one name change later, the vaunted ‘winter’ beer among those who care is back!

For those not in the know, Celebrate Ale, as it was named back in 1981, was Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s third recipe, after the release of their iconic Pale Ale (their second) and Stout (their first). How’s that for staying relevant amongst an ever-increasingly crowded shelf and draft cooler?

With some words from the brewery, second-generation owner, and son of founder Ken Grossman, Brian Grossman states:

“Celebration season is upon us and we’re so excited. This time of year the brewery is always buzzing with an extra energy as the freshly harvested hops arrive to the brewery and the aroma from brewing batches of Celebration Fresh Hop IPA hangs in the air. It’s a wonderful time of year.”

As the name implies, Fresh Hop, the brewery hopes you will consume this as soon as possible. Although there are countless stories of people ‘aging’ their Celebration Fresh Hop IPA and Celebration Ale, the brewery hopes you’ll instead choose to enjoy it for as long as it’s available in your local distribution network.

Breaking it down, here’s the notes from the brewery regarding the 2026-edition of Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Fresh Hop IPA.

Style: American IPA made with freshly harvested kiln-dried hops  

ABV: 6.8%  

IBU: 65 

Flavor Notes: Intense hoppy citrus and pine notes, accentuated by slight floral hop aromas, balanced with rich caramel malt flavors  

Availability: Nationwide (October – December 2026)

One detail that was editorially left out was the SRP (suggested retail price) which is different based on your state, county, and city taxes. But what’s important is that you have a choice between 12-ounce canned or bottled six- and 12-packs or enjoy it on draft.

Finally, the brewery has shared the details of their 2026 brewery-exclusive Cell Drippins, only available at their Chico and Mills River taprooms.

What is Celly Drippins?

Here with an answer is the brewery, courtesy its press snippet.

With the brewing of Celebration Fresh Hop IPA comes Sierra Nevada’s rarest offering, Celly Drippins. The rare beer will be available at both the Mills River, NC and Chico, CA brewery locations for draft pours only while supplies last, starting on Friday, November 6. First pours of Celly Drippins will be served at 3:00 pm local time in each location. The beer can only be enjoyed on site as no crowlers or growlers of the beer will be offered. The brewery encourages fans to plan a visit for a memorable Celly Drippins tasting experience. 

What is Celly Drippins? It is made from the drippings of the dry-hop bags used to make Celebration Fresh Hop IPA. Celly Drippins is a more concentrated, hoppy version of Celebration and is regarded as Sierra Nevada’s rarest offering because only a small handful of barrels are produced each year. 

For more information on Celebration Fresh Hop IPA including where to find it, visit the brewery’s website https://www.sierranevada.com

Update: We were informed that Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s first beer recipe was their Stout, followed by its Pale Ale, before its Celebration Ale was produced.

TLDR;

The BC Greens party have unveiled a plan to reshape British Columbia’s beer markup system, lowering rates for small breweries, by phasing in increases as producers grow, and raising rates for the largest producers.

The BC Craft Brewers Guild estimates its proposed reforms could save craft breweries $16.3 million annually.

The party also proposes reviewing cider markups and creating dedicated craft cider sections in BC Liquor Stores.

Announced by candidate David Evans at Sooke Oceanside Brewing on October 19, the plan aims to support an industry of more than 200 craft breweries and equaling over 4,500 jobs.

Sharing their motivation for this initiative, Evans stated:

“B.C. is home to Canada’s first brewpub, it’s home to some of the best craft brewing in the world, with Victoria being named one of the 15 best beer cities in the world by CNN. But for too long, we have punished the local brewers who make the delicious beers and ciders we all enjoy.”

If you want to learn more, we’ve included the press release below.

Press Release

Lək̓ʔəŋən [LEKWUNGEN] TERRITORY / VICTORIA, B.C. — BC Greens candidate for Juan de Fuca-Malahat, David Evans, announced the BC Greens plan to support B.C.’s brewing economy today at Sooke Oceanside Brewing.

“B.C. is home to Canada’s first brewpub, it’s home to some of the best craft brewing in the world, with Victoria being named one of the 15 best beer cities in the world by CNN,” said Evans. “But for too long, we have punished the local brewers who make the delicious beers and ciders we all enjoy.”

BC’s beer markup system penalizes small breweries as they grow, while giving the largest multinational beer companies more than $9 million in annual rebates. The BC Craft Brewers Guild has proposed revenue-neutral reforms that would put money back in the hands of small brewers to hire staff, raise wages, and keep their doors open, instead of paying into a markup system stacked in favour of multinational beer giants. But despite brewery closures across the province, the BC NDP has failed to act.

“As a small business owner, I know what it’s like when the rules are stacked against you,”said Evans. “Breweries are critical to B.C.’s economy,” said Evans. “More than 200 craft breweries support over 4500 jobs across the province, while around 85 cider producers turn BC-grown fruit into finished products, creating markets for local farmers. That’s why we’d implement the BC Craft Brewers Guild’s proposal and make it easier for local cideries to get their products on their shelves.”

The BC Craft Brewers Guild, representing over 200 craft breweries in nearly 80 communities across BC, applauds the BC Greens’ plan to support local breweries and cideries:

“We are thankful anytime a candidate expresses a desire to see the BC craft beer sector grow. Craft breweries and cideries are small, locally owned businesses that create jobs and give communities across British Columbia places to gather. They are also a growing part of BC’s agritourism story. Through the BC Ale Trail and the new BC Farm-Based Ale Trail, they connect visitors with local farms and producers in more than 60 communities. We appreciate candidates from all parties recognizing that contribution and putting forward our markup proposal, which is revenue-neutral. It is a fair and straightforward fix that will address current challenges and we are glad to see it become part of the conversation on how we ensure BC craft breweries can support thriving communities.”

The BC Greens will:

Implement the BC Craft Brewers Guild’s proposed revenue-neutral beer markup reforms, lowering rates for small breweries, introducing more gradual increases as they grow, and raising rates for the largest producers. The Guild estimates its proposal would save BC craft breweries $16.3 million annually to reinvest in their businesses and employees.

Review provincial liquor markup rates for cider to ensure fair treatment of small producers and continued support for cider made from BC grown fruit. Additionally, improve access to BC Liquor Stores by establishing dedicated craft cider sections to be featured alongside craft beer.

This Saturday, October 17th, Halcyon Brewing Company is celebrating its fifth anniversary in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood.

Like any celebration, centered on a brewery, Halcyon will showcase not only their core draft options, but will also include a couple beers stowed in the back of their cooler for a special occasion including an Imperial Stout and Barrel-aged Maibock, some yet to be tapped expressions and a couple late-harvest fresh hop beers including an American Pilsner made in collaboration with Little Letters Lagers and former Lowercase Brewing Company alum John Marti that just took bronze at the Washington Fresh Hop Beer Awards.

For those seeking entertainment, the brewery will feature live music by The Hasslers from 4 to 6 pm, DJ accompaniment by DJ Matt (Matthew Ellis) starting at 7pm, and finally, Halcyon is bringing back the Beer Pong Tournament, which is available to most who attend.

Not to be outdone, the kitchen has included some food specials, including a Katsu schnitzel paired with an oyster mushroom gravy made with locally sourced mushrooms from the sous chef’s farm (Forest House Farm). Other specials include "German style," potato salad, apple stewed red cabbage, a pretzel plate with miso beer cheese, creamy cucumber salad, caramel apples. On top of this, look out for a special smash burger as part of the brewery’s newly expanded smash burger menu.

Finally, for those looking to take something home, there will be limited apparel including a new cap and buy-one-get-one half-off canned beer specials.

But before the doors open, which will be at 12 pm, one has to appreciate where it all began, five-years-ago.

Taking a moment out of their busy brewing day, Furey recalls the first day they opened their doors to the neighborhood and those looking for a

Started in 2021, over a year after the world reckoned with coronavirus, founders Tom and Lisa Furey, and Matt and Lauren Hipp moved into the former home of Naked City Brewery & Taproom, reestablishing the Greenwood neighborhood’s third brewery.

Nearly two-years since Naked City Brewery & Taproom left, Halcyon Brewing started less like a brewery and more like how Naked City began, by collaborating with the community.

Absent a traditional brewhouse and through his connections at breweries like Standard, Stoup, Chainline, Mirage, and many others, founding brewer Tom Furey, successfully developed beers that allowed the space to feature beers by Tom Furey and friends, served side-by-side with a fun menu that included variations on the hot dog theme, including an inspired Seattle Dog expression, along with Asian-inspired recipes.

Later on, after the Czech-style brewery previously used at Kirkland, Washington, brewery, Chainline, was installed, Furey got to work on producing beers which inspired him, ranging from pilsners, maibocks, and dark lagers to the trendy india pale ales, pale ales, and stouts. Along the way, he never forgot about those connections, those who provided Halcyon with their first beers.

Some of those include:

1. Finsync West Coast IPA: Brewed in collaboration with Ravenna Brewing.

2. Hot Dog Time Machine / Cream Ale Collab: An annual Seattle vs. Olympia brewery collaboration.

3. Los Cincos Amigos: A dark Mexican-style lager brewed across the alleyway in collaboration with Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery.

4. Msg in a Bottle: A fresh-hop Willamette rice lager brewed in collaboration with Little Letters Lager.

5. Dortmunteau: A Dortmunder strong lager brewed in collaboration with White Bluffs Brewing and brewer Larry Rock.

6. Westies with Our Besties (2026): A multi-brewery regional collaboration for the Washington Brewers Guild, brewed alongside Georgetown Brewing and several other local spots.

7. No Hate No Fear IPA: A statewide 15-brewery collaboration project spearheaded by El Sueñito Brewing.

Just to name a few.

Along the way, the kitchen has grown from an ad hoc approach which featured Asian-inspired bites, hot dogs, and shrimp snacks to one with a firmer identity including izakaya-ish pub grub style items (like their popcorn chicken, dumplings, and furikake fries) and more recently an expanded smash burger menu, and a local favorite festival “Gyoza Fest”.

Along the way, listening to demand by its customers, the brewery and public house have hosted community-focused entertainment ranging from live music and comedy to interactive events including trivia and bespoke arts and crafts.

When asked to sum up how far they have come since 2021, Halcyon Brewing’s Tom Furey states how much the support of the Greenwood neighborhood, the greater neighborhood community, and the brewing community means to Halcyon Brewing Company.

Whether your first time or it’s been some time, you’re encouraged to swing by Halcyon Brewing, at 8564 Greenwood Avenue, in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood, this Saturday, October 17th.

If you've not stopped by your local Zupan's Markets, and there are three of them, lately, you'll probably want to check out their latest Farm to Market Beer. In cooperation with Hood River brewery, Ferment Brewing Company, the market chain and the brewery invite you to try their latest Hazy India Pale Ale.

Brewed with hops Citra, Simcoe, and Mosaic, the overall sensory notes include fresh blueberries, marmalade, peaches, and pine. So if you're looking for pairing ideas, it might make sense to start with sharp or layered cheeses, seasoned meats, and garlic. Or, you could try one of these after spending time in the yard. After all, there's yard work to be done.

For more on this, hit your local Zupan's Market by visiting the following: https://www.zupans.com/

TLDR;

The 2026 Great American Beer Festival awarded 336 medals to 243 breweries and cideries from across the U.S. Most notable is Oregon’s Breakside Brewery & Taproom and Texas’ Snow Capped Cider earning top producer honors.

Totaling over 7,200 entries and including new categories for rice lager, hop water and gluten-free beer, this year’s GABF (aka, Great American Beer Festival) didn’t fail to surprise.

If you want a complete breakdown or want to review the press release, we’ve included both below.

Press Releaase

Denver, Colo. • October 11, 2026— The Brewers Association (BA) announced the beers and ciders taking home medals at this year's Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) competition. New this year, the competition added categories including rice lager, hop water, and a one-time craft malt category, along with two new specialty beer subcategories and three new standalone gluten-free style categories.

A total of 243 breweries and cideries took home 336 medals in this year’s Great American Beer Festival competition. Over three days, 225 expert judges evaluated 7,267 beer and cider entries—including 54 Collaboration and 30 Pro-Am submissions—from breweries across 49 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

"The submissions from this year's competition continue to reflect just how far American brewing and cidermaking have come," said Chris Williams, competition director for the Brewers Association. "The addition of multiple new styles and unique concepts like the ‘Craft Malt Beer’ and ‘Hop Water’ categories gave producers fresh ground to explore. The overarching quality presented by so many of the contenders underlines how intensive the judging process is and how competitively these contenders rise to the occasion with entries that pushed each category forward. GABF remains one of the most competitive stages in craft beer, and these winners represent the very best our industry has to offer. Congratulations to this year's medalists."

The awards ceremony was held at Levitt Pavilion and live-streamed on The Brewing Network on Sunday, October 11, 2026, as part of the Great American Beer Festival.

View the 2026 winners [PDF]

GABF Competition Statistics

7,267 entries (beer, cider, hop water) judged

1,300 breweries & cideries in the competition from 49 states, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico

225 judges

200+ volunteers

Average number of beers entered in each category: 67

Category with the highest number of entries: Category: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale (277 entries)

336 total medals awarded

243 medal-winning breweries and cideries

125 first-time GABF competition entrants

12 first-time GABF competition winners

Five cider categories

New categories: Rice Lager, Hop Water, Craft Malt Category, Multi-Adjunct Beer (subcategory of Specialty Beer), Hybrid/Crossover Beer (subcategory of Specialty Beer), Gluten-Free divided into Classic Ale or Lager, Hoppy, Specialty

TOP 5 MOST-ENTERED BEER STYLE CATEGORY WINNERS

* Both categories tie for the fifth most-entered category, each with 161 entries.

Category 102: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale (277 entries) – Sponsored by Wyeast

GOLD: Before & After Science | Human People Beer | Seattle, WA

SILVER: Born Hoppy | TapRoom Beer Co. | San Diego, CA

BRONZE: Mosaic + Krush Cryo West Coast IPA | pFriem Family Brewers | Hood River, OR

Category 101: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale (260 entries) – Sponsored by Wyeast

GOLD: Because Science | Bend Brewing Co. | Bend, OR

SILVER: Icy Fog | McMenamins Breweries | Portland, OR

BRONZE: The Goat |New York Beer Project - Beer Lodge | Orchard Park, NY

Category 56: German-Style Maerzen (184 entries)

GOLD: Altstadt Oktoberfest | Altstadt Brewery | Fredericksburg, TX

SILVER: Oktoberfest | Bingo Beer Co. | Richmond, VA

BRONZE: Oktoberfestfest | MainStage Brewing Co. | Boulder, CO

Category 100: American India Pale Ale (165 entries) – Sponsored by Stronger Can, Better Service

GOLD: Breakside IPA | Breakside Brewery & Taproom | Milwaukie, OR

SILVER: Built for Speed | Grains of Wrath Brewing | Camas, WA

BRONZE: Green Battles | Pinthouse Pizza – North | Austin, TX

Category 50*: German-Style Pilsener (161 entries)

GOLD: Altstadt Pils | Altstadt Brewery | Fredericksburg, TX

SILVER: Templin Family Fass Bier | Templin Family Brewing | Salt Lake City, UT

BRONZE: Pazifik Coast Highway | Beachwood Brewing | Huntington Beach, CA

Category 54*: Dortmunder or German-Style Festbier (161 entries)

GOLD: Festbier | Wren House Brewing Co. | Phoenix, AZ

SILVER: 8th Anniversary Lager | Fat Head's Brewery | Middleburg Heights, OH

BRONZE: Counter Weight Fest Bier | Counter Weight Brewing Co. | Cheshire, CT

MOST-ENTERED Cider CATEGORY WINNERS

Category 203: Fruited Cider (58 entries)

GOLD: Gowan's Heirloom Cider | Honey Citron | Philo, CA

SILVER: 2 Towns Ciderhouse |Golden Lime Cosmic Crisp | Corvallis, OR

BRONZE: 2 Towns Ciderhouse | Huckleberry Cosmic Crisp | Corvallis, OR

BREWERY OF THE YEAR

0-250 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Mieza Blendery | Alexandria, VA

>250–500 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

UPP Liquids | Bend, OR

>500–1,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. | Golden, CO

>1,000–2,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Craft Coast | Oceanside, CA

>2,000–5,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Morgan Territory Brewing | Tracy, CA

>5,000–15,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Fieldwork Brewing Company | Berkeley, CA

>15,000–100,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Breakside Brewery & Taproom | Milwaukie, OR

>100,000+ Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Goose Island Beer Co. | Chicago, IL

Cidermaker of the Year

Snow Capped Cider | Austin, CO

…

The 2026 Great American Beer Festival was made possible in part by the generous support of its presenting sponsors: Amoretti, Antigo Zeon, Country Malt Group, John I. Haas, and Prairie Malt; its category sponsors, and through a partnership with the American Cider Association.

###

About the Great American Beer Festival

The Great American Beer Festival® (GABF), hosted annually by the Brewers Association since 1982, is the longest-running, premier beer festival in the United States. GABF offers consumers thousands of beverage samples from producers around the country, and countless opportunities for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage discovery along the way. The Great American Beer Festival Competition, is the nation’s largest professional brewing competition where beers and ciders are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals, and is the nation’s largest professional brewing competition where beers and ciders are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence.

About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade organization representing more than 9,300 small and independent American brewers. The BA champions the independent craft brewer seal—a trusted symbol that helps consumers identify beer brewed by small and independent producers.

The BA organizes some of the industry’s most influential events, including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, and American Craft Beer Week®. It also publishes The New Brewer® and through Brewers Publications®, remains the country’s leading publisher of brewing literature. Beer lovers can explore the world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and follow the BA on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

Announced this afternoon, after a little over a decade of operation, Beardslee Public House has ceased its brewing operations. Co-founded by veteran brewer Drew Cluley, formerly of breweries Big Time, Pike, and Pyramid Ales, owner John Howie has confirmed they have ceased brewing operations, stating:

“This was an extremely difficult decision, but one we needed to make for the long-term health of Beardslee Public House. We are very proud of the beers we have produced and grateful to everyone who has enjoyed them over the years. While we will no longer brew our own beer, we remain committed to offering our guests great craft beer and supporting the talented independent breweries in our region.”

For its brewer, Drew Cluley, this marks the latest departure, but one that Chef Howie was quick to recognize.

“Drew has been an important part of Beardslee from day one, and we have been honored to work with him. His knowledge, passion and dedication to his craft have been remarkable. This decision is not a reflection of Drew or the quality of his work. We are incredibly grateful for everything he has contributed to Beardslee and wish him nothing but the very best.”

For Cluley, this departure is the latest in a long and heralded history in the Pacific Northwest. During his time in Washington, alone, he has worked at several historically significant breweries, including Pike Brewing Company, Big Time Brewing, and Pyramid Alehouse. Along the way, he has established his own signature, including the development of Monk’s Uncle Tripel at Pike Brewing Company, before establishing his signature beers, including Green Leaf IPA at Beardslee Public House.

Unfortunately, Beardslee Public House’s decision to cease brewery operations isn’t a recent trend. You have to look at craft brewing’s history to see indicators this will continue to be a trend unless consumer tastes and expectations change.

There was a time, back in the halcyon period known as the ‘80s and ‘90s, when a brewery business plan included a restaurant and brewery. An idea inspired by classical pubs in the United Kingdom and Europe, the idea was designed to create intimacy and memory, all against the backdrop of stainless steel, double-walled, or copper-lined fermenters and brewery kettles. Unfortunately, over the years, that concept has been eschewed as generations of imbibers from those periods have aged out, their proteges seeking the drink and go lifestyle that a taproom provides.

Over the decades, the tasting room and taproom concept has grown in popularity, as the brewpub model with its onsite kitchen and staffing is in decline. Regionally, and in the past 10-years, breweries like Fat Head’s, BJ’s, The RAM, Bridgeport, Hale’s Ales, Pike, to name a few, fall into the list of casualties associated with the rise of tasting rooms.

Unlike those businesses, which concluded both their breweries and restaurants, Beardslee has taken the approach of sourcing their beers from outside, both locally and regionally.

For Beardslee, this decision comes down to changing tastes, including those preferring lower or no alcohol, but also more intimate or relaxed experiences. This decline hasn’t been immediate either. In fact, if you were looking for a throughline, it might start with the rise of cider and seltzers, both hard and non-alcoholic, lighter-alcohol spirits, and ready-to-drink canned cocktails. Coupled with the global pandemic, which acted as a catalyst, it became clear that consumer tastes were on the decline.

As stated in the press release included, the present plan is to exhaust the remaining barrels of beers present in fermenters and serving tanks before replacing each departing style with a guest beer. As for the restaurant operations, they remain unchanged along with the rest of the drinks program at Beardslee Public House.

If you want to learn more, we’ve included the press release. Until then, if you’ve not been to Beardslee Public House in some time, now might be a great time to enjoy one more pint of Drew Cluley’s beers, before the name Beardslee Public House is no longer associated with brewing.

BOTHELL, Wash. — Beardslee Public House has announced it will discontinue its in-house brewing operation after more than a decade of brewing beer at its Bothell restaurant.

The decision comes as the restaurant industry continues to experience changes in guest traffic and consumer drinking habits, including declining alcohol consumption and a growing preference for other beverage options. These changes have made the brewery operation no longer sustainable for Beardslee Public House.

“This was an extremely difficult decision, but one we needed to make for the long-term health of Beardslee Public House,” said Chef John Howie. “We are very proud of the beers we have produced and grateful to everyone who has enjoyed them over the years. While we will no longer brew our own beer, we remain committed to offering our guests great craft beer and supporting the talented independent breweries in our region.”

Beardslee will continue serving its current selection of house-brewed beers while supplies last. As those beers leave the taps, they will be replaced with a rotating selection from small and independent craft breweries.

The closure of the brewery also marks the departure of longtime brewer Drew Cluley, who has been with Beardslee Public House since it opened.

Cluley brought extensive brewing knowledge and industry experience to Beardslee and has overseen its brewing program throughout the restaurant’s history, operating the brewery largely as a one-person operation in recent years.

Beardslee Public House will continue to offer its full food, cocktail, wine and beer programs, with its beer selection evolving to feature craft breweries from the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

About Beardslee Public House

Beardslee Public House is Chef John Howie’s family-friendly restaurant in Bothell, Washington, featuring scratch-made food, craft cocktails, beer and weekend brunch in a relaxed neighborhood setting.